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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Repeating pocket watch

Repeating Watch with Two Ladies at the Altar of Love

Partially verified

This gold repeating watch, held by the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (BK-NM-12851), is attributed to the period circa 1790–1800. Its dial is white enamel, signed by the maker 'Dutertre' and inscribed with the location 'A PARIS'. The back cover is decorated with a polychrome enamel scene depicting two ladies standing in front of an altar, a motif reflected in the Dutch title 'Repetitiehorloge met twee dames bij het altaar der liefde'. As a repeating watch, the movement is designed to strike the time on demand. The object is catalogued by the museum under the classification of jewellery and is part of the permanent collection, representing an example of decorative horological work from the end of the eighteenth century.

View of the watch dial showing the signature 'Dutertre' and the white enamel finish.
View of the watch dial showing the signature 'Dutertre' and the white enamel finish. — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Repeating pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Dutertre
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-NM-12851
Source-reported date
c. 1790 - c. 1800
Source-reported place
Not established

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Dial Construction

The watch is encased in gold and measures 5 cm in diameter. The design includes a white enamelled dial, which serves as a canvas for the hour markers and the maker's signature. The numerals are presented in a clear, legible style, positioned around the periphery of the dial.

The exterior of the watch, specifically the back cover, is enhanced with a polychrome enamel scene. This artistic detail depicts two figures, identified as ladies, positioned at an altar.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gold repeating watch, with white enamelled dial.”
  • “On the back cover, a scene in polychrome enamel of two ladies in front of an altar.”
  • “diameter 5 cm”

Signature and Attribution

The dial of the timepiece bears the signature 'Dutertre' above the center, with 'A PARIS' inscribed below.

The museum record for BK-NM-12851 confirms the provenance of the watch within the Rijksmuseum's collection. While the signature is clearly visible on the dial, further horological research is required to cross-reference the movement and specific technical characteristics to confirm the exact origins within the Dutertre workshop history.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-NM-12851”

Museum Provenance and Classification

The watch is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam under the accession number BK-NM-12851. It is officially classified within their records as both a watch and a piece of jewellery, highlighting its dual function as a timekeeping instrument and a decorative accessory. The museum's documentation provides the foundation for the current description of the object.

The Dutch catalogue title, 'Repetitiehorloge met twee dames bij het altaar der liefde', confirms the identification of the watch as a repeating model. This classification suggests the presence of an internal complication designed for auditory time signals. The object remains accessible through the Rijksmuseum's permanent collection database.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-NM-12851”
  • “Repetitiehorloge met twee dames bij het altaar der liefde”
  • “wrist watch · jewellery”

Open research questions

  • What specific type of repeating mechanism (e.g., quarter or minute) is housed within the case?
  • Can the Dutertre signature be linked to a specific member of the Parisian horological family active in the 1790s?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Repeating Watch with Two Ladies at the Altar of Love
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Museum Object NumberBK-NM-12851“BK-NM-12851”
MaterialGold“gold (metal)”
Dimensions5 cm diameter“diameter 5 cm”
Datingc. 1790 - c. 1800“c. 1790 - c. 1800”

Visible details

  • Dial is signed 'Dutertre' and 'A PARIS'
  • Features a white enamel dial with Arabic numerals
  • Gold case with a repeating mechanism
  • Back cover shows a polychrome enamel scene

Research qualifications

  • Maker attribution relies on the dial signature, requiring verification against movement records
  • The specific technical type of repeating mechanism remains unverified

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Repeating Watch with Two Ladies at the Altar of Love

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 2327be0bed

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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